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Committee hears wide support for ‘bell-to-bell’ phone ban; members press for implementation fixes
Summary
Stakeholders including teachers, superintendents and school boards told the House Education Committee Senate Bill 78 would reduce classroom distraction and improve behavior and achievement, but witnesses urged changes to the bill’s 'secure storage' language, clearer emergency exemptions and funding for equipment.
Senate Bill 78, a proposal to prohibit use of personal cell phones during the school day, drew broad endorsement from teachers, districts and school-board groups at a House Education Committee hearing, but committee members pressed sponsors for clearer implementation language and funding options.
Senator Rotz, who introduced the measure, described it as a “bell-to-bell” ban intended to protect instructional time and improve academic outcomes. He told the committee that smartwatches and other connected devices remain a thorny implementation question and asked members for help refining exemptions.
Supporters testified that removing phones from sight can boost focus and…
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